A person using the name Mr Coleman called from this number claiming to be a public defender from Rockville Maryland. He told the lady he called that her grandson was arrested and needed $2,500.00 to get out of jail. I spoke with the guy and he got defensive when I questioned him and he hung up.
Same thing happened to my mom yesterday. Unfortunately she fell for it and was taken for $7000.00 before realizing what was going on. Any suggestions on what to do. I would love for these creeps to be nailed.
My Mom almost fell for this. He had her number and he called her Gramma... he did sound like he had a cold though (!) She called me because she didn't want to drive in the snow. She was very upset and wanted to go right away to Wal-Mart to wire this guy some money. Alarm bells went off in my head as I had just read something in the newspaper about a local guy getting a similar story. We called around and verified that my nephew was in Ohio, not in a jail in Richmond, VA.
Here is the long version: Someone called saying, "Grandma I got a DUI in Richmond, VA after a superbowl party and I need help to get me out of trouble, but please don't tell ANYONE, not ANYONE!!!" He then gave the number of his "lawyer" named Michael Coleman at (438) 765-3430. My mom called Michael Coleman and he needed money for a telephone pole my nephew supposedly hit. Coleman said he was the lawyer, and to go to Wal-Mart and wire money to Samantha Patterson in Richmond. Mom wanted to call this Samantha Patterson so she could tell her she sent the money, but Coleman said to call him and he would let her know. He said he got my nephew off and everything would be all right. Note that he did not ask for bail money or attorney fees at this point. He wanted a sum of money (I forget how much) wired from Wal-Mart to this Samantha person in Richmond. That was all the information he gave her. he said he would be in court all day. Mom called him back and asked him which jail he was in, and he said he would call down there and call back. He didn't call back.
Obviously, many things don't add up and make sense when you read this, but when you get Grandma upset, rational thinking goes out the window. He must have been very convincing, both as my nephew and as his lawyer. Let all your Grandmas and Grandpas out there know about this! They are being targeted.